THE 24:7 theatre festival wound up at the weekend, with audience figures double those at last year's first run.

Despite organisers having to make two last minute changes to venues, the festival has been a huge success, with audiences watching more than 105 performances of 21 new plays.

Organiser David Slack says: "We've been really pleased. We're cementing it in the calendar as an annual event. There was a great atmosphere. Talent scouts were out in abundance and the lunchtime slots meant we grabbed a new audience."

Meanwhile, Moving Pictures, which was produced by Salford Studio at The Midland Hotel, is proof of how the festival is bringing together and nurturing the region's talent.

Writer Cathy Crabb wrote the comedy-drama, which won Best Comedy at this year's Buxton festival, especially for actresses Denice Hope and Sue Jaynes, who was also performing a one-woman show The First Rule Of Comedy, after meeting them at last year's event.